Page 39 of My Monster, My Choice

“Are you crazy?” I snap, my palms flat on his rock-hard chest as I try to push him away.

“Crazy fer you!” Kenny giggles behind him and I freeze.

Dammit, my son never left. He must have gotten caught by Elex at the front door.

“Kiss me, precious,” Elex whispers, bending his head. “Your curious son watches.”

I can’t help the moan that escapes me when his lips touch mine. Because this was our agreement after our affair ended six months ago. As long as he stopped pushing me for a relationship with him, I would agree to pretend.

For Kenny’s sake.

ChapterFourteen

CHRISTINA

Kenny’s giggle echoes out the front door as he actually leaves this time, his little heart full with the proof that I surely am paired with Elex.

That bastard knew just what he was doing when he tricked me into coming inside.

I push him away with my hands on his chest. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this.”

He backs away, his tentacles trailing after him, retracting as they wind gracefully away from me and back into his own space. “You said a pretense for Kenny in exchange for me no longer asking you to be mine. Does a pretense not include kissing you?”

“I meant a casual relationship! Some dating. We’d hang out together during outdoor functions, barbecues, and the like. Until Kenny matured enough to deal with us splitting up.”

A slow grin pulls at his lips as his brow clears. “Well. You probably should have made that clearer, my mate.”

I deliberately glance around him to where Kenny no longer stands and spring the full force of my sarcasm on him. “You don’t get to call me that right now, baby cakes. I’m only your mate when Kenny’s present.”

I realize my mistake when he grins broadly at what he considers a love term.Baby cakes.Tera used to teach the Adroki that food items could be considered endearments, so my sarcasm is lost.

Scowling, I walk by him, snatching a tentacle when he reaches out for me, and lead him straight out the front door. When we’re both standing on the front stoop of my house, I spin around in one smooth move and head back inside, letting the door bang behind me. The last thing I see over my shoulder is his stupidly grinning face as I engage the lock.

Butterflies skitter around my midsection because…Elex is back. Tonight is an outdoor party…and Elex is back.

Of course, I should have known the party was set to welcome him home. I never paid attention and should have asked why we were having a party. Maybe everyone assumed I knew. If I had, I’d have come up with an excuse not to attend. Maybe that’s why they didn’t tell me.

As it is, I can’t help but take extra care when getting ready that evening. Thankfully, Tera tossed Kenny in the shower at her house so all he has to do is change into fresh clothes before we make the trek through the back trails to get to the main house where the dancers live.

“Mum, here’s Uweena an’ Sushi. Ima go play, okay?”

“Alright, but you know the rules?”

“Yes.” He rolls his eyes. “We jus’ going ta swing.” Peering out the window, he eyes the small playground the Adroki made last summer. Not only does it have a common swing set, but there are small swings shaped like spaceships, propelled by pushing the pedals with the feet. It’s well suited for his shorter legs; he loves it.

From the park, my friend Dori waves, so I know it’s okay. She’s outside knitting while Irene swings and I know she’ll keep an eye on them all. I wave back and then head off to find my new grandbaby. I make the short trek through the open fields to the main lodge.

“Christina! Did you see Elex is back?” Jaire’s mother, Lampia, hurries to my side. She spends more time here in Eden than on her own planet, wanting to be near her son and daughter-in-law, Anya. Not that I mind, she’s a sweet woman. She loves to teach Kenny to cook, and she and I get along great, despite our age difference. We have being mothers in common.

But she seems to think Elex is one of her sons. She’s taken to playing matchmaker and I love her to death, but I can’t tell her why I’m not the one for him.

“I saw him,” I say quietly. “He came by the house.”And I locked him out.

“He came back early for a reason, you know. He brought a team of recruits to Earth. He is to train them, and they will travel to the smaller areas, introducing themselves and getting people used to us. It will relieve the mated couples like Jaire and Relion from doing such chores in addition to establishing the farms on Eden.”

“I’m glad he had a noble reason for returning,” I murmur. “Work. He’s an important man, a captain. Hopefully he’ll get special commendation for volunteering for more time away from home. And since he’s not mated, I guess it’s easier to focus on one’s career, hmm?”

“Oh, but…” Lampia looks a little perplexed, like that wasn’t at all how she wanted the conversation to go. But I smile easily at her as Anya waves me over, then mumble an excuse. “I have to go see your adorable granddaughter.” I give my friend a quick hug, dismissing myself quickly as another approaches her. I make my way across the yard to where Anya has arrived.

---